Spray gun



Jan. 13, 1931. 1F. A. TITTEIMORE SPRAY GUN Filed June 4, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 13, 1931. F. A. TITTEMORE 1,788,810

SPRAY GUN Filed June 4, 1927 2 SheetsSheet 2 fare/'22? J JQGLMIO Aim/ 61 85 7 Qtto zms r Patented Jan. 13;

FRANK AI-PITTEMQEE, EI HMQND CA I Q NIA Assienori LH K i e EQUIPMENT 4 .Q MI' W O (SAN I M-mace "CALIFORHIJALA GbRPQR 'r-ION r NEVADA I l ip plicatign filed June 74,

.';1 lnis invention relates to spr aiy g uns and particularly to dev ces oi this nature employed inspi'ey ngier applying liquid paints;

0 I 5, races. Y

lacquers, varnishes andthedike-upon sur- "The object ofthe invention is to provide a Spray gun Whiehis simple in strueture,ee0- nomi cal to manufacture, and efficient n use. A r er J Ct is to provide a s n'ay gun livered may-belfcentrollecl; altered 'Or varied as. may be? desired or required according to the nature or cjharaeter of the mater al 0'1" 0t encountered in the use of the device.

A further Object iste 'prevl'de'a'spray gun of the'eharacter referred to wherein "thepart'sare few and simple; and easyto assemblegeo n10ye,'replace'or repair. Otherobjects pfthe morefuly'hereiriefter I 7 V 1 ts substantially in the The' entife'n 'eneis cqnslti'u'tien, 'c e" "bin'ziition', location and relag L .ri-aiigement of parts, all as will be mere fu y hereinafter "set forth; illustrated in tlieaeeqmpan ying 'dra\- ving, and finally penited out in th 'e' app nded "claims. I

In them opi'pan ing drawing 6 Figfl is 'a' View in vertical longitudinal sectin ubeing at right angles to that Of; I w l igs. 5;6 end' 'g arebroken detail s in longitudinal s'eetion 9f the uqzzle. end; the plane bf s ctioncentaining"th air slits openings in the'spr" '1is1:;'-;,,idillustrating rai'ieus' relatioiis' and 'dispesit'iens the air 'slits'with reference to the tip 'en'd' of the material tube toeontrol or vary'the charaeter 5 ofthe spraytobe 'p redueeeltf i of the eharacte'r referred'teavherein'then21 ture, shape 01} dlmensions'of the spray dethe surface to be sprayedmr other condition I invention ill "ap peA-tr;

central SGCt1Ol1 f'a structure ofs p ray' gun principles of my invention.-

"i of the I mp; end ofth tub'eithrough-Which the ma- 'i terial to he Sprayed l8 delivered,theplaneoli ISEPIQAY GUN f 1927, gem No. 195,4

Fi s. 8, 9 andflO', are; respectively; rear for I lnner; end elevatiensi of the spray disks shew;

8, 9 and '10.; shewingslightlymodified arrange'ments and T (if the airSl'it-s in the spray disk,

Figs. 16 and 17 ere diagrammatic illustratiens of the forms "of sprays obtained with V fillSliS'ShiOWIl in;F1gs. 14 and 15, re- I the Spray speetively, a

Thesame part is designated by the same .refereneei; numeral) Wherever it occurs trati'ohsfiln di gramfef the shape or'fqrm of sprayiobtainedfx'v th the iiezzle a a-ligaments I; f @FFICiEQd throulagho ut the'seweralviews.v r 4 H In the use of sprayingiequipn ents of fvarif V 0us-.' sOrts "and :fbr' varieuspurposes it is commonexPedmnt to employ spray gu'ns, nozzles, air brushes or the jhke whiclu generally, lincludee tubular mehiber'threughwhich the material rte be sprayed; isd'eIiVer'ed and ahead or spraymember-hevin-g an 01-14 ficewhieheneircles the tip end (n'i' th'e mate 7 rial supply tube or member, andlhreugz'h air jet,[ encbmpassing and"surrounding the tip of the material tube, is designed and use of spraying devices of this nature; that the envelepe of air Whichthus is projected the materialtube, end which "encircles the forwardly in the direction ofthe lehe th e1 P Which-airunderpressureiis delivered; vThis stream of materiah; Often; failstdetleet the desired ,atemizetien of the 'materiahas it comes in contactwyith enlythe periyflierel' surface of the. material stream, with the result thatthe material'is not properly broken up. or atomized. Moreover, the resulting tuti g "the central portipn' 0 core 'thifeqf;

spray is of more or lesseylil'idrical'fdrm Wi'th the bulk of the unatoniizedmateriel c'oristi plementtli-e material encircling siphonic and atomlzing et, the auxiliary or additional ets being directed across the line of projection of the atomized, or partially atomized, material at a point forwardly ofthe delivery end of the material tube. The principal purpose of such auxiliary or additional jets is to form the spray into fan shape in order to increase the etficiency, and to reduce the time required to effect, the spraying operation. The addi tion of the auxiliary transverse jets, how ever, does not correct the faults of the central encircling jet. They tend to split the tubular jet into halves thereby forming a central zone in the spray which is more or less devoid of material which is objectionable. Hence, the spray nozzles at present mostcommonly in use, even with the auxiliary jets, remain inefficient and wasteful of material as well as of time and fail to secure, desirable results, besides necessitating the use of large volumes of air which increases the power requirements and hence its cost. Moreover, by reason of these additional jets meeting or intersecting each other at a point forward of the extremity of the tip, a back eddy effect is created which causes particles of the sprayed material to deposit upon the endsurface of the tip thereby clogging'theorifice therethrough of the main air jet and hence impairing if not destroying the spraying action of the gun, and, in any case, caus ing repeated interruptions of the use of the gun to enable the tip surface to be cleaned oil, and the clogging material to be removed.

Again, different kinds and natures of material to be sprayed and surfaces tobc sprayed and other conditions encountered in use require dillerent forms or shapes sprays to obtain the greatest efiicicncy and economy.

It is among the special purposes of my present invention to proyide a spraying gun, air brush, or the like, which obviates "these. and other defects and secures economy and efficiency. To accomplish this I provide a nozzle structure in which the same jet or jets of air which exert the siphonic action on the material also atomizes the material, and projects the atomized material onto the surface .to be sprayed, while at the same time said jet or jets are also utilized to shape the spray into the desired fan shape thus entirely eliminating the central encircling air jet heretofore'employed. I' also propose to provide anozzle structure of the nature referred to herein whereby bysimply'removing and replacing a single part, namely, the spray disk;

the gun or air brush is made adaptable to producing any desired shape or dimension of spray that may be required, thus not only securingefficiency but also economy of material, time and cost in effecting the spraying operation.

Generally speaking, the advantages of my invention are realized by providing a gun or air brushnozzle structure in which is adapted to be received readily removable and replaceable spray disks each having air ducts or slits formed therein of the required or desired arrangement, structure, dimensions or relation, to produce its own particular dimension, character, shape or form of spray, the a r jets delivered through such ducts or slits accomplishing not only the siphonic and atomizing actions, above referred to, but also the shaping of the spray. In carrying out my inventionI eliminate entirely the encircling air jet, that is, a jet which envelope and encircles the material, and, instead, employ slits or ducts in the spray disk which extend alongsideof and in the direction of the length of, the end of the material tube, but preferably inclined toward the same. I have also found that the best results are secured when the whole or the greater part of the air of the jets delivered through said ducts or sl ts strike at an angle the exterior surface ofthe material tube at or near the tip end of the latter, and that by bringing the points where theinclined jets encounter the exterior surface of the material tube t p closer to, or removing the same back farther from the extremity of said tip, I am enabled to secure a very desirable, important and valuable control of the shape of the spray produced. Therefore by providing spray disks having relatively varying'shapes, forms, dispositions, or other characteristics, of air ducts or slits, capable of being readily and easily assembled, removed and replaced, with reference to the material tube and its tip, I am enabled, with the same gun, to secure any desired shape or characteristic of spray, while at the same time securing a maximum of eliiciency and economy in effecting the spraying operations. I am also enabled to economize to the extent of from forty to fifty per cent in the volume of air required, which means a very great saving in cost of structure and operation of the power equipment. This economy is secured by eliminating the central encircling air jet orifice heretofore used, and which required a large volume of air for operation and using only the air dclivered through the ducts-or slits to accomplish not only the 'siphonic action but also the atomizationand projection of the paint material, as Well as the shaping of the spray itself, as will be more fully explained herein after. e

While I have shown and will now describe a structure of spray gun, air brush, or the like, and. various forms spray disks for use therewith, as embod ments of my 1nvcntion, it is to be understood that my invenmy invention. And while I have shown my 7 invention as applied to. spray guns for paint,

' lacquerorvanhsh,applicatiom l am not to p y s-dev c -ij I lii e' to, tliei e nsa,num al (1 h 'ch 1s pro-r be limited" with respecttothe-natureor char-,

c e- 'o ie. l te i al be prayed n dtlie' purpose to. wh chthe structure is-to be put as igna'tes; the body --o. pthe gun w videdwith, a handle orgrip 21.;" Atitsfor wardend the gun bedy is formed witha chamber 22, to which the. material to sprayed'is delive'i'ed through suitablefhose or other, connection-Knot shown) with a nipple 23 Rcmovably-fitted'into; the forward end of chamber 22 ,is a plug "2 having a central" hole or passage 2,5therethrough,which opens at itsinner end into the material chambe'n Theforward end portion of theplug 2 L is exteriorly coned, as shown at 27', and its ex treme forward end terminates-in an annular tip 26. The innerend (portionof the plug 24 seats'tightly against cone: seat, formed inthe end surface'of thegun body surround ingfthe hereof chamber 22 in which the inner end of the plug is received; Adapted to be tightly but removably seatedupon thegcone'd surface 27 of plug24c is a member28 which I M will call the spray disk. This-"member is in the-form of an annular f fitting having its inner surface or face formed into a bearing to seat airtight against theexterior cone sur face 27 of plug 23 centralopening'is formed in the spray disk28'throughwhich, extends the tip 26 of plug 24, the spray disk fitting thereon tight-but removable. The spray chjskQS is preferably formed with d ametrically disposed lugs or extens'ons 29, at

= its *outer -faceto afford protection against mechanical injury to the tip 26.; The central opening or bore through thesp'ray diskme nber 28ji's formed at diametrically opposite said spi'ayfds'kis-assembled in place on the outerend of-the plug 24.;and seated against said plugg said slits extend alongside the exterior surface of'the plug 24, but inclined outwardly towards the exterior,surface of the tip 26, and-constitute air ductssoi'. pas sages. The disk 28 when seated upon; the outei' end of the plug 24; is off-set forwardly 'froin the end oft-he? gun body so: as to form an annular air chamber 81,=and the ducts 30 lead forwardly from said annular a r chain:

' b er onlineswhich converge inwardly towards and deliver upon; the exteriorlsurfaceof the tip 26. ponstriking the exterior surface I ofthef tip the air etst javel alongsaid surface and p t the extremityfe th t P- 'This the surface thsiebtclem and free; in any I accumulat ons l0f Li material deposited whr. 1 on. thereon and tlVOlClS any clogg ng that mightotherwise "result "from; any. such deposits.

exerts a wiping action upon the tip which This arrangementalso vents the creatioi f O'f back eddies o f tlie paint mat fiatther'e avoiding any tendency: of the iiiaterial' to epidsit saie i These ducts or slits constitute the enlyline -of passage of eomp; std air through i the T head of "the. gun i' in the a rch'amherto the tip, and consequeiitliy all. the ,airkrequired inthe use of the gun atom zmg,"siphoning, spraying", I

and shapiiig the 'S' myjgis delivered time f'ftloi-sli'ts'; ducts deliver; surfa eof he tip playsa arf ets upon the exteriorflhepoint atwhieh't esef vitally importan par-tin shaping tnesp' The farther to;

the rear these jetsare delivered upon the tip -26", issuing sp .viflfl d br split sign its centerliiie Iinto..-tw o halves. The desirable andfmost efii'cientop'enl the/thicker will the bod-y of the r ray at its cen'tral portion ,andthei thinnerf its side edges"; and if port he of the" em'ity Qf' ation is sec nred when the spray is thin and of uniform thickness throughout its entire width, as shown in Fig. '12 This result" is secured "by so disposing. the duct-s or slits as to enable the 'airijets delivered *therethrough toimpinge'uponthe tipat apoint as close to theforwardextremityof the tip as possible without actually escaping it. Should,

the jets pass by the forward'end of the t p 26,.wgthout striking the exterior surface thereof, the entiresprayiug aetionis destroyed and the. device would beuseless,

where; the same jetsfare relied on to secure the siphonin g and atomizingactions as Well as-the spray shap ng action." Thus. in Figs.

5} and 81 have s hown'a" spray disl28 wher'ep in theair ducts forined bytwonarrow slits 'pointswitli thin narrow slits 30, so that when 30 of Y-shepein"-cross--2sectionare formed iii-the tapering bore of thespra-y disk QSQ and 1 are '1 disposed. at diametrically opposite sides of the plug- 24, said slits being of the same 'rangement of the slits or ducts 30.

or narrow spray of uniform thickness, as illustrated at 33 in Fig. 12. d

Other Variations in the shape or form of the spray may be produced by other variations in the nature, character, shape or ar- Thus, in Figs. 7 and 10 I have shown one of a pair of diametrically disposed slits as being thin, narrow and of a shallow depth and the other broad and deep, and both delivering against the exterior surfaceof the'tip 26 rearwardly of its extremity. The resulting spray, as indicatedat 34, Fig 13 is ofarc-shape- By employing two pairs of slits of equal dimensions and symmetrically arranged in'the bore surface of the spray disk, as shown in Fig. 14, a more orless square shape of spray, indicated at Fig. 16 is produced when the air .jets'strike the outer surface of the tip. A

similar arrangement is shown in Fig. 15 e2 cept the members of one pair of the slits are narrow and shallow and those of the other pair are'broad and deep. This results in a I. more or less rectangular form of spray as indicated at 36, in Fig. 17, when the air jets encounter the tip.

Thus it will be seen that by providing a 7 set of spray disks each having its own particular form and arrangement of slits 30, to produce its own distinctive type of spray, but all of said disks constructed alike 'Wlth reference to the assembly thereof with the nozzle member or plug 24, and gun body, I

am enable to use the same gun to produce any desired type of'spray by merely detachably assembling the proper spray disk with said plug and gun. Many different ways will occur to those skilled in the art to detach.- ably and rem'ovably assemble and mount the spray disks. I'have shown one simple and efficient form oi -connection for'this purpose which is illustrative of the' principle involved, wherein thc spray disk 28 is formed with an annular peripheral shoulder 37, ar-

ranged to be engaged by an inwardly extendflange 38 at the outer end of a coupling sleeve 39 which is threaded upon the end of the gun body. By inserting aspray disk 28 in the coupling sleeve with the flange 38 of thelattcr cngagingagainst the shoulder 37,

and then screwing up the sleeve on theend of the gun barrel or body, thespray disk is caused to be clamped tightly in its seating on the plug 24, and is thereby ccntcrcd'thereon, with the tip end 26 of the plug fitting tightly through the central orifice or portion of'the bore through the spray disk. To replace a spray disk by another for obtaining a different character of spray it is only nece sary to uncouple the sleeve 39 from the end of the gun body, remove the one spray disk from the sleeve and slip into place therein anether havin the required structure or arrangement of air slots and screw up the sleeve onthe gun'body. The spray disks can be passage 41. Air under the desired regulation of pressure thereof, or otherwise, is delivered into the chamber'40 from any convenient source, as, for example, through a hose, or other form of connection (not shown) attached to a nipple 42 and pipe section 43 in the handle or grip 21, or such connection may be made through a plug of suitable structure fitted into the rear end of the chamber 40. The communication between chamber 40 and passage 41 may be controlled 'in any suitable way, as, for instance, by means of a valve 44, normally maintained seated, as by a spring 45, but capable of being unseated by means of a finger piece or trigger 46 arranged to engage the stem 47 of said valve. In like manner the material to be sprayed may be delivered into chamber 22, under any desired system of pressure or other control, and the supply thereof through the plug 24 and nipple 26 controlled in anysuitable or desired manner, such for example, as by means of the usual needle valve 48, which extends into the tip26, said valve being normally maintained in closed or'cut-ofi' position by means of a spring 49, acting upon the stem 50 of said valve. The needle valve 49 may also be unseated or shifted to open the tip 26, by

the manipulation of thefinger piece or trigger 46. The properly'timed operations of the valves 44 and 48 may be effected in any desired manner, as, for instance through the coupling 51 of the stems'47 and 50, of said valves. However, all these details of air and material supply and control, in and of themselves, form no part of my present invention, and hence may be varied throughout a wide range, without affecting the functioning and operation of the nozzle structure wherein my present invention more particularly resides. The control. of the material supply to the action of the spray shaping jets, effected through the operation of needle valve 48,

of the gun body.

53, and'to thereby enable said abutmentto son, I associate with said abutment a hand or pointer 54, which'cooperates with an annular graduated scale orrow of serrations, or other with said jseating surf-ace. i

suitableindic'es 55, provided at the rear end The alignment throughout of the valve stems 50 and 47, the operating coupling 51 between them, and the adjustable stop device 53, with its associated and cooperating hand or pointer makes an exceedingly simple structure which is eflicient and very economical to manufacture.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I provide an exceedingly simple eflicient and inexpensive structure of spray gun or air brush wherein I employ inclined air ets not only to exert a siphonic action on the material to be sprayed, and to effect the atomization and application of the atomized. material, but which also produces the desired l shape and contour of spray to avoid waste ofmaterial and loss of time in accompllshing the application of the material. In the use of a spray gun embodying my invention I amenahled to secure a very large economy and saving of both material and timein the application, besides effecting a more perfect and satisfactory application, of the material and at largely reduced power cost, due to the saving of air volume required. I am also enabled to employ the gun where high pressure of atomizing air is the only pressure available for use with the apparatus because by striking the surface of the material tube tip before striking the material and the pressure is caused to be reduced and hence excessive atomization is prevented.

Having now set forth the objects and nature of my invention, and a structure embodying the principles thereof, what I claim 'as new and useful, and of my own invention,

in a delivery tip, and a spray disk having a central bore to receive said tip therethrough, said here having thin narrow slits formed in the inner surface thereof, said slits disposed at opposite sides of said material passage and communicating with the air passage, and delivering upon said tip adjacent the extremity thereof, said slits affording passages for air jets to siphon the material through the tip and atomize and project the same and shape the projected spray.

2. A spray gun provided with material and air passages and control means therefor, said material passage having an exterior seating surface and a delivery tip, a spray disk constructed to fit against said seating surface and having an opening through which said tip protrudes, said. disk also having slits disposed at opposite sides ofsaid'material passage communicatingwith the air passage, 'a nd delivering upon the exterior surface of the protruding part of said tip adjacent'the extremity thereof, and means to detachably secure said d sk n tlghtseating engagement 8. A spray gun having ma terial and air "passages and means tocontrolthe same and atopposite sides and deliveringuponthe ,ex-

terior surface ofthe material'passage adja-Q cent its delivery. extrennty,'the transverse widths of said slits dispesed at right angles to the opposed exterior surface of the ma teriail passage.

ff. A spray gun having material and air. passages, and means to control the same, said material passageincluding a. plug having an exteriorseating surface and a delivery tip extension, a spr'ay disk mounted on said seating surface andhaving aborethrough whiehz;

said tip extension protrudegsaid bore having narrowed slits] elongated in cross section. formed at diametrically opposite points therein, said slits having their width dimension, extending radially witlr respect to the oposed surface 1 of said p lug communicating with the air passage andinclined forwardly towardsanddelivering upon the exterior surface ofsaid'tlp extension, adjacent the extremity thereof, and meansto detachably SE.

cure safi'd spray disk uponsa'id seating surface. --'5;. A spray gunhaving controlled material and air passages, said material passage including'fa .plug secured in the forward end of the gun, and having an exterior seating: surfaceand a tip extension, a sprayjdisk' mounted on said seating surface and having a central opening to receive said tip extension, said central opening having narrowed slits elongated in cross section in the surface thereof inclined forwardly towards and de liveringrupon thefexterior surface of said tip extension adjacent the delivery terminal thereof, said slits communicating at their rear ends with the air passage, and means connected to theend of the gun and engaging said'spray disk to detachably' secure and retain the same seated upon said seatingsurface. v a V 6. A spray gun having material and air passages, and means to control the same. said material passage including a plug secured in :theforward end of the gun, and having an tion formed in the'surface thereof, said slits extending forwardly and inclined inwardly towards and delivering upon the exterior surface of the terminal end of said tip, said slits also communicating with said air passage, and a. sleeve detachahly engaging the end of the gun and having an annular flange to engage the shoulder on said diskto' detachably clamp the latter into its seating upon said 1 seating surface.

7. A spray gun provided with material and airpassages respectively, and control means therefor, said material passage including a plug having inclined exterior surface and a terminal portion and a central bore through which the material is delivered and a spray disk detachably and removably mountable upon the said plug and seating against the exterior inclined surface thereof, said disk hav- I ing a central bore therethrough to receive the plug terminal tip, the seating surface of said disk having diametrically disposed narrowed slits elongated in cross section the longer dimension thereof being in radial relation to said seating surface, said slits communicating with the air passage and delivering upon said tip extension adjacent the extremity thereof.

8. A spray gun having a spray head including a fluid tip having a central bore therethrough for the delivery of the material to be sprayed, a spray disk having a bore therethrough to receive and seat tightly upon the exterior surface of the tip, the delivery ex '35 trelnity of the tip extending through and beyond said spray disk, said spray disk having ducts or passages in the bore surface thereof for the delivery therethrough of air jets for siphoning the material through the 40tip bore, and atomizing and projecting the same and shaping the projected spray, the ducts or passages of the spray disk delivering upon the annular surface of said tip at a point near the extremity thereof. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of May, 1927. FRANK A. TITTEMORE. 

